Mower guard



A'. G. MILLS MOWER GUARD Dec. 30, 1947.

Filed Oct. 27, 1944 j. i ZZvS INVENTOR.

Patented Dec. 30, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MOWER GUARD Arthur G. Mills, Sioux Rapids, Iowa Application October 2'7, 1944, Serial No. 560,631

1 Claim. 1

In the process of highway maintenance, it is necessary to run a mower along the earth on opposite sides of highways, for the purpose of cutting grass, weeds, light brush, and the like. Obstacles are likely to be encountered by the fingers of the mower, and the present invention aims to provide a means whereby the fingers and the sickle may be raised to clear obstructions, an even cut of the vegetation being obtained.

In order that adjustments may be made to meet varying conditions, a shoe which extends under the finger should be capable of vertical adjustment at its rear end. Difiiculty has been experienced heretofore in making that adjustment, and still have a firm bearing engagement between the forward portion of the shoe and the forward portion of the finger.

The present invention aims to provide a means whereby that object may be attained.

A mechanic who abides by what is claimed may make such changes as his skill may direct, :vithout departing from the spirit of the invenion.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows, in longitudinal section, a device constructed in accordance with the invention, parts remainin in elevation.

Figure 2 is a top plan.

Figure 3 is a transverse section.

In the drawings there is shown the finger bar I of a mower, and a finger 2 disposed immediately below the finger bar and disposed transversely thereof.

The finger 2 includes a tapered point 3 having a downwardly convexed lower edge 4 adjacent to its forward extremity.

An upwardly and forwardly inclined shoe- 5 is disposed below the finger 2 and extends to the rear of the finger bar I. The shoe 5 is provided at its forward end with a tapered hood 6, having a tapered recess 1, receiving the point 3 of the fin er 2.

The upper rear portion of the hood 6 is fulcrumed at 8 on the upper edge of the point 3, to permit the rear portion of the shoe 5 to be adjusted vertically, with the downwardly convexed lower edge 4 of the point 3 in rocking engagement with the lower portion of the hood 6, within the recess 1. The engagement between the upper edge of the point and the upper rear portion of the hood 6, shown at 8, and the engagement be tween the convexed edge 4 of the finger 2, and the lower portion of the hood 6, serves to limit the entrance of the point 3 into the recess 1 to such an extent that the forward portion of the point is spaced both longitudinally and transversely from the wall of the recess 1, thereby permitting a vertical adjustment of the rear portion of the shoe. It is evident that the hood 6 is firmly mounted on the forward portion of the finger 2, yet a vertical adjustment of the rear portion of the shoe is possible through the instrumentality of a vertically adjustable connection between the rear portion of the shoe 5, the finger 2, and the finger bar I.

The aforesaid connection may be a securin element, such as a bolt 9, having its head I0 countersunk into the lower surface of the shoe 5, the bolt passing upwardly through the rear part of the finger 2 and through the finger bar I, a nut ll being threaded on the bolt and being in engagement with the finger bar I.

A plurality of superposed, individually removable spacers or washers l2 are carried by the bolt 9, and are interposed between the rear portion of the shoe 5 and the rear portion of the finger 2.

Any desired number of washers may be removed, washers of different thicknesses may be used, and, consequently, a vertical adjustment of the rear part of the shoe 5 may be obtained, a secure but pivotal mounting of the forward portion of the shoe on the forward portion of the point 3 being attained, owing to the fulcrum shown at 8 and to the rocking engagement between the convexed edge 4 of the point and the lower portion of the hood 6.

The device forming the subject matter of this application is simple in construction, but it will be found thoroughly advantageous for use upon mowing machines operating primarily on rough surfaces, such as those along a highway, and

under circumstances that call for a vertical adjustment of the rear portion of the shoe, considered relatively to the finger 2.

What is claimed is: In a mower the combination with a finger bar and a tapered finger fixed thereto and extending therefrom, said finger having a flat top, a convex bottom, and a pointed end, of a supporting guard including a, shoe having upwardly diverging end portions, a hood carried by one end portion thereof and cooperating therewith to provide a pocket proportioned to slide on to the pointed end of the finger, said hood bearing at its edge upon the flat top of the finger, said shoe having its rear portion beneath and spaced from the finger, a bolt connecting said spaced portion of the shoe to the finger bar and finger, means for adjusting the bolt to tilt the shoe relative to the finger and bind opposed portions of the pocket upon the top and bottom of the finger respectively, said finger contacting edge of the hood constituting the fulcrum on which the shoe is tilted, and separately removable superposed spacers on the bolt between the shoe and finger and constituting adjustable means for limiting the tilting movement of the shoe under the action of the bolt.

ARTHUR G. MILLS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,204,441 Holland-Leta Nov. 14, 1916 2,065,729 Patera Dec. 29, 1936 2,187,438 Wilcox Jan. 16, 1940 2,273,014 Blackledge Feb. 1'7, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 20,646 Great Britain 1910 

